Health and Local Food for Families (HALFF) issued the SOS just before Christmas, saying unless it raised £5,000 soon it faced having to close its South Street HQ and reduce some of its services.

But the community has come to the rescue and last week the target was reached when Mark Carlisle, of solicitors Beviss and Beckingsale, presented a cheque for £800.

It followed a recent £1,500 donation from the town’s Rotary Club.

Handing over the cash Mr Carlisle said: “My mother was an NHS Nurse and often used to say that all the money and possessions in the world could not make up for bad health. Without good health life is pretty miserable.

“Clearly one of the fundamentals of good health is a sensible and nutritional diet. Carers, whether of adults or children, are often responsible for others’ diets but this frequently is forgotten. It is an important responsibility and therefore training of carers is very important.

“I have been coaching rugby for many years in the age ranges from seven to 16 and it is quite obvious that despite all of their efforts young boys who are very overweight suffer, cannot keep up with their team mates and as a result, lag behind and eventually give up. It is therefore a self perpetuating circle. “Those that actually need the exercise the most do not get it and that is largely down to parents not appreciating the importance of a sensible diet. It makes obvious sense that it is better to teach people to eat properly rather than having to treat the symptoms of a poor diet - whether this is heart disease, diabetes, strokes etc.”

As the Lacemen’s Colts licked their wounds from their recent defeat by a strong Barum outfit, they travelled to Okehampton for a must-win game and produced the goods in a 25-15 result, writes Paz Parratt